John ‘Chalkie’ or ‘Chalky’ Ventour was an early member of the NJM and a member of the party’s powerful Central Committee and the Political Bureau.

A protege of Bernard Coard, Ventour was also a student member of OREL who served as President of the Commercial & Industrial Workers Union, and Secretary of the Trades Union Council during the Grenada Revolution.

Ventour was one of the Grenada 17 who was imprisoned for his role in the deaths of Maurice Bishop and his supporters.  He was released from prison in